Tray



April 10:

A. E. GUNDELACH TRAY Filed 6 1933 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT TRAY Albert E. Gundelach, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 6,

6 Claims.

aperture adjacent the central portion of the bottom through which the user of the tray may insert the thumb of the supporting hand in order to clamp the tray bottom against the subjacent fingers, and thus firmly hold the tray against tilting or tipping or being knocked form the hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray of the last mentioned character in which the aperture is so located with respect to the center of the tray bottom that when the tray is suported on one hand with the thumb of the hand extending through the aperture, the tray is centrally balanced and is so held that there is little, if any, likelihood of the tray tilting when articles are removed from, or placed on, one side of the tray.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tray of the type and character under consideration in which the upper face of the tray bottom is providedwith a bead around the aperture so as to prevent liquid from flowing or running through the aperture onto the users supporting hand during use of the tray.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present tray construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a tray embodying one form of the invention; 7

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the tray of Figure 1, exhibiting the manner in which the aperture in the tray bottom permits the thumb of the users supporting hand to grip the top surface of the tray bottom and clamp the tray bottom against the fingers;

Figure 3 is a perspective of a tray embodying another form of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the tray of Figure 3.

The tray which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing and represents one form of the invention is adapted primarily for use in cafeterias, restaurants and like establishments or places,

1933, Serial No. 650,411

FFICE and serves as a supporting instrumentality for glasses, dishes and other articles.

It is adapted to be held in one hand so that the other hand is free to place articles thereon and to remove articles therefrom, and comprises a flat bottom 5 i and a rim 6. The bottom is formed of glass or any other suitable material and is circular.

The

rim 6 extends around the edge of the bottom 5 and, as shown in the drawing, projects above and below the tray bottom. The portion of the rim which projects above the bottom of the tray serves to hold the articles in place on the tray and to prevent the articles from slipping off the tray bottom. The portion of the rim beneath the bottom of the tray is provided with an annular or ring shaped strip '7 which extends around and is secured to the inner periphery of the rim and is suitably secured to the margin of the tray bottom so as to hold the rim in connected relation with the latter.

In order to permit the tray to be held to hold the tray in place.

When the tray is to be used, the fingers of the users tray-supporting hand are placed under the bottom of the tray and the thurnb is inserted through the aperture 8 into hooked relation with the top face of the tray bottom. By moving the thumb downwardly, the tray is clamped against the fingers and is securely held in place against tilting or slippage from the users hand. The aperture 8 extends radially from the center of the tray, as shown in Figure 1, and is so situated or positioned with respect to the tray center that when the thumb of the users supporting hand is inserted therethrough, the outer end of the thumb engages the tray center and the fingers are located about the tray center.

As a result of this arrangement, the

and around the aperture.

This bead, as shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawing, is formed integrally with the tray bottom and is preferably about the same thickness as the tray bottom. The aperture 8 is preferably formed with substantially straight sides and semi-circular ends so as to conform to the thumb. The portion of the bead 9 adjacent to the inner end of the aperture permits the thumb to be held in more or less hooked relation with respect to the tray bottom and forms a gripping surface or part for the thumb.

The tray which is shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing and represents another or second form of the invention is for the same purpose as that of Figures 1 and 2. It is formed from a single blank of plate metal and consists of a circular bottom 10 and an annular flange 11. The flange is formed integrally with and projects upwardly and slightly outwardly from the margin of the bottom 10 and serves as a rim whereby the articles on the tray are held in place. The bottom of the tray is flat and at the central portion thereof is punched and shaped to form an elongated, thumb-receiving aperture 12. This aperture ex-- tends radially with respect to the center of the tray bottom and is positioned similarly to, and serves the same purpose as, the aperture 8 of the tray of Figures 1 and 2. A hood 13 is formed integrally with the bottom of the tray and extends over the outer end ofthe aperture 12 so as to encase and protect the inner part of the users thumb. The hood 13 is formed by striking it upwardly from the tray bottom. The portion of the bottom of the tray which defines the inner end of the aperture 12 is rolled or deflected upwardly, outwardly and then downwardly in order to form a bead 14 around said inner end of the aperture. This bead is U-shaped and joins the inner end parts of the hood, as shown in the drawing.

In using the tray of Figures 3 and 4, the fingers of the users tray-supporting hand are placed under the central portion of the tray bottom and the thumb is inserted through the aperture 12 into gripping relation with the top face of the bottom of the tray. In this position of the thumb, the inner part is covered by the hood 13 and the outer part hooks over the bead 14.

The herein described tray constructions may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and are adapted readily to be supported in one hand due to the aperture formation which forms a part thereof.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for carrying dishes and other articles comprising a flat, article-carrying bottom adapted to be centrally supported on one hand and having an upstanding rim. for holding the articles in place and anielongated aperture extending through the central portion thereof for receiving the thumb of the hand and permitting the same to be bent into a. position wherein it extends over the upper face of the bottom and clamps the bottom against the fingers of the hand, and a shallow, drip-preventing rim integrally formed entirely around the thumb aperture and comprising a round bead to fit comfortably under the thumb joint.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for carrying glasses, dishes and other articles, com-- prising a substantially flat, article-carrying bottom adapted to be centrally supported on one hand and having an upstanding rim for holding the articles in place and an elongated aperture extending through and radially with respect to the central portion thereof for receiving the thumb of the hand and for permitting the same to be bent into a position wherein it engages directly the upper face of the bottom and clamps the bottom against the fingers of the hand, said aperture being offset with respect to the absolute center of the tray bottom to such extent that when the thumb is inserted through the aperture the fingers of the hand are located directly beneath the center of the tray bottom and the tray is evenly balanced on the hand, and a cornparatively small, rounded bead formed on the top face, and as an integral part, of the bottom end extending around the thumb-receiving aperture so as to prevent liquid on the bottom from flowing downwardly through the aperture.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for carrying glasses, dishes and other articles, comprising a substantially fiat, article-carrying bottom adapted to be centrally supported on one hand and having an upstanding rim for holding the articles in place and an aperture extending through the central portion thereof for receiving the thumb of the hand and permitting the same to be bent into a position wherein it engages directly the upper face of the bottom and clamps the bottom against the fingers, and a comparatively small, rounded bead on the upper face of the tray-bottom extending around the aperture and adapted to prevent liquid from flowing downwardly through the apertureand also to fit within and be gripped by the part of the thumb under the outer joint without causing disengagement of the tip of the thumb from the upper face of the tray-bottom.

4. As a new articleofmanufacture, a sheet metal tray for carrying glasses, dishes and other articles, comprising a substantially flat, articlecarrying bottom adapted to be centrally supported. on one hand and having an integral, upstanding rim around the margin thereof for holding the articles in place and an elongated aperture extending through radially with respect to the central portion thereof for receiving the thumb of thehand and for permitting the same to bebent into a position wherein it engages directly the upper face of the bottom. and clamps the tray-bottom against the fingers, the part of the bottom of the tray which defines. the inner portion of the aperture being deflected upwardly and bent to form a rounded bead around said portion of the aperture for the purpose of preventing liquid from fiowing downwardly through the aperture and forming a gripping surface for the part of the thumbunder the first joint, said bead. being of such height that it does not cause disengagement of. the thumbfrom the upper face of the tray-bottom.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for carrying glasses, dishes and other articles, comprising a substantially fiat, article-carrying bottom adapted to be supported-on one hand and having an upstanding rim for holding the articles in place and anelongated, substantially radially extending aperture extending through the central portion thereof through which the thumb of the hand may be inserted into hooked relation with the upper face of thebottom for tray-gripping and clamping purposes, and means conand clamps the bottom against the fingers of the hand, said aperture extending radially and being spaced from the center of the tray-bottom to such an extent that when the thumb is inserted therethrough the fingers of the hand are located directly beneath the center of the tray bottom and the tray is evenly balanced on the hand, and a shallow, drip-preventing rim integrally formed entirely around the thumb aperture and comprising a round bead to fit comfortably under the thumb joint.

ALBERT E. GUNDELACH. 

